Dynamo take on Morelia in Superliga Semi-Final & Other Thoughts on USMNT Roster

While the MLS season has been up and down, the 2010 Superliga has been a success so far for the Dynamo. Getting seven points to win the group and defeating Pachuca and Puebla was a very good start for the Orange Crush. Now they face another Mexican club at Robertson Stadium tonight at 7:00 pm for the right to play in the final.

Morelia was a goal scoring machine in their first two matches scoring all seven of their group stage goals against the Chicago Fire and PUMAS. A number of those seven goals came as a result of defending mistakes which were few and far between in their shutout loss to New England. Unfortunately, defensive issues have been a running issue for the Dynamo this season.

Morelia’s roster includes Mexican international Miguel Sabah (scored the winning goal in Mexico’s 2-1 win over the U.S. in Azteca Stadium last year) at forward and the team has received significant contributions from Luis Rey, Jamie Lozano, and Elias Hernandez. With their attacking options Morelia likes to push the pace (like more Mexican clubs) which leaves them vulnerable in the back at times. However, the team is extremely skillful and has enjoyed good form in Superliga.

The Dynamo enter the match missing their starting goalkeeper but hoping to get a contribution from Geoff Cameron. Pat Onstad looks to be out for the next three weeks so Tally Hall will get the call and hopes to continue his Superliga success. He was very good in the group stage and could be under attack from Morelia. His play will be critical to the Dynamo’s success.

Cameron is a popular topic on this blog and I am sure a number of Dynamo fans hope to see him run out on the field tonight. The midfield will be important again tonight as the Dynamo will need to hold possession and frustrate Morelia like they did Pachuca. If the Dynamo can keep testing Morelia’s backline I think they can create quality chances.

Things I am looking for in the match:

1. Will the Dynamo backline be secure? Morelia has pounced on mistakes in this tournament but their offense sputtered against a quality defensive club in New England. A tight backline will go a long way to the Dynamo moving on.

2. Will the midfield hold possession? The play in the midfield will be the key for the Dynamo tonight. The attack is at its best when the midfield is the link between the forwards and defense. If the Dynamo relies on the long ball it could be a long night for the club.

3. Who starts beside Lovel Palmer? Anthony Obodai was okay against RBNY but with possession being key tonight will the more experienced Richard Mulrooney be the better choice? Also, where does Cameron fit into the equation?

4. Will we see penalty kicks tonight? PKs are always drama filled and make for good T.V.

Key to the match: The Dynamo backline not giving away chances. If the group stays organized and compact they can stall Morelia’s attack and open opportunities as Morelia likes to throw numbers forward.

Prediction: 1-0 Dynamo. I think Morelia will find it hard to create chances and the Dynamo keep their momentum going from this past Saturday.

What is your prediction? How much do you want to see Cameron play, if at all? Who should start next to Palmer? Are you worried about Morelia’s potent attack?

Other Thoughts on the USMNT Roster

Bob Bradley released the roster yesterday as I posted, and now that I have had a day to think about it here is the roster again and some other thoughts of mine along with a projected starting lineup.

- I am not a Bradley hater but one of my issues with him is his continuing to call in former players or favorites. Jonathan Bornstein has long been an issue but my main point of contention has been with his love of Sacha Kljestan. The kid had one good match against Switzerland in 2008 and has been unimpressive since to say the least. He is new to his club Anderlecht and instead of leaving him there to play he calls him in over some other deserving guys who are established at their club. Maybe this is a rant on my part but this is one reason I would be in favor of Bradley not being brought back. Time for a new coach with a new vision and without favorites.

- The player I want to see most is Jermaine Jones. I do not think I have been this excited about something since waiting to find out what was in the hatch on LOST. When in form the guy is a top player in the Bundesliga for Schlake ’04 and should figure into the U.S. plans for this cycle and the next world cup despite being 28.

- I am surprised that there was not a young defender called in. While the October Poland friendly and January friendly (normally MLS heavy) may be better opportunities I was certain one of Omar Gonzales, Eric Lichaj, Kevin Alston, or Tim Ream would be called for experience alone.

- Alejandro Bedoya is another player I am looking forward to seeing. He probably will not start but the kid almost pushed his way on the world cup roster. I am very excited to see him against a quality opponent like Brazil.

- Is this the worst group of forwards we have seen since 1998? Wow, this is bad. All three were on the world cup roster that produced zero goals. I understand Altidore and Charlie Davies being left off but are these really options 3-4-5? Juan Agudelo, Marcus Tracy, Brek Shea, and even a guy like Mike Grella would have been nice to see over Robbie Findley. Also, Yura Movsisyian will be a U.S. citizen soon and should figure into the group. He has been in great form for Randers in Denmark.

My projected starting lineup:

————————-Howard———————————

Cherundolo—Goodson—–Bocanegra——Bornstein

Donovan——Bradley——–Edu—————Feilhaber

——————-Findley——–Buddle———————–

Or

—————————-Howard——————————-

Cherundolo—–Goodson—-Bocanegra——Bornstein

———————-Bradley——-Edu————————-

Kljestan——————Donovan—————–Feilhaber

—————————–Buddle——————————-

What do you think of this starting lineup? See it differently? Are you happy Bradley is still around? Who are you happy was called in? Who are you not happy about?

4 Responses

Excited about seeing Jones and Bedoya. Really excited about getting to see Jones. I was beginning to think he was like Bigfoot and didn’t really exist.Agree on Sacha as well. All coached develop favorites, so the fact that Bradley has favorites is not necessarily a knock on him….but is a good reason for bring in a new voice for the USMNT team. If this was a standard club environment and Bradley kept sticking by an under performing player ever weekend he would either have to recognize that the player is not getting it done or find himself in hot water. At the national team level it’s easy to convince yourself to keep giving one of your “favorites” a shot every few months.

Major props for the “LOST” reference! Can’t wait to see Jones too. Sacha is looking good for Anderlecht, all the more reason to let him stay there and get a strong hold on his starting position. Can’t believe he didn’t call Demerit and DaMarcus, those guys are too good to not have a team.

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LOL, thanks Alton. Wife and I are/were big LOST fans. Hopefully Jones produces as well as the series did. -Darrell-

So looking forward to have Cameron back in the lineup. I would feel better about the game tonight if Serioux was going to play. Sorry, but not impressed with Obodai. Mulrooney has better ball control. Bring out the big guns first and put the game away in the first half.

What I would like to see is us drop acting like we have width in the formation. Run a 4-2-3-1.

——————–Howard

Cherundolo—Bocanegra—Marshall—Bornstein

————–Bradley—-Jones

——–Donovan—Feilhaber—Bedoya

——————-Buddle

The two defensive midfielders would provide the wide cover for the defense, allowing the backs to push forward in attack or pressure the initial ball on the outside. It would give us more attacking freedom because we wouldnt be worrying about the wide mids tracking back so much when we have those long spells without possession. We’d also be pretty strong in the midfield with the linking play of Jones/Bradley with Feilhaber, and give Donovan/Bedoya some freedom to work inside out and make runs off Feilhaber or on the dribble. But thats my perfect world.

I dont really think too much about the whole roster callup this time. This is going to be a long 4-year cycle, and the non-World Cup players seemed to be most of the guys just on the outside. Yes, Sacha was just on the outside, as as sad as that may be. My honest hope (and my gut feeling) is that this will be the last Bob Bradley coached US game, and it means nothing in the grand scheme of things. I dont think anyone like Gonzalez or anyone would really receive a huge benefit from a cap in this game.

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Mike, your point about the lack of true wide play reminds of comments made during the world cup by Lalas and Klinsmann. When the lack of quality wide service came up (which there was a lack of it in the world cup) they brought up the point that attacking wide players today are positioned to cut in on their strong foot to go at goal. Five years ago, players played out wide to send balls into the box. The wide play is from overlapping fullbacks mainly.

As far as the match not being important, I disagree. It is an opportunity to get players time against a quality opponent.Gonzalez has been added for Marshall and I think playing 25/30 minutes for a young player against this level of talent is a great benefit. -Darrell-